The Ultimate Guide to Root Canal Treatment

The most common cause of toothache is infection or inflammation in the pulp of the tooth. To relieve this unbearable pain as well as to prevent further complications, the tooth may be surgically extracted or saved by Root Canal Treatment. With awareness about oral and dental care rising, this treatment has become a common dental procedure.

Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment, is a procedure in which the damaged or diseased pulp of a tooth is removed and the inner areas like chamber and root canals are filled and sealed to save it from further infection.

The Diagnosis

Pain in chewing, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold, swelling and tenderness of the gums, darkening of tooth, unbearable pain and inflammation in gums and the area around, pimples appearing on the gums are some of the symptoms suggesting the need of Root canal Treatment. The dentist will take an x ray of the tooth to determine if there is any sign of infection in the surrounding bone.

The Procedure

The root canal treatment, spread over a number of sittings with the dentist, is a step-by-step procedure, carried out in the following sequence.

Step 1 – Local anesthesia is administered to numb the affected tooth and its surrounding areas. Treatment begins only after the entire area becomes senseless.

Step 2 – Now a small access hole is drilled through the biting surface of an affected back tooth or from behind a front tooth, allowing access to the pulp chamber and root canals for treatment.

Step 3 – The infected and dead pulp tissue is removed with specially designed surgical instruments and the root canal is cleaned. As the area is numb and the tissue is either dying or dead, the procedure is not painful. The canals are disinfected with antiseptic and antibacterial solutions.

Step 4 – Now the canals are shaped with tiny instruments, before being washed and cleaned. Root canal fillings are selected that exactly fit into the freshly prepared canals. Sealing the canals is very important to prevent them from becoming re-infected with bacteria.

Step 5 – The access hole is sealed and a permanent restoration like a filling or crown is done to restore the tooth structure as well as to provide a complete covering. An antibiotic is prescribed to treat and prevent any infection.

Post Treatment Care

In the course when antibiotics are taken, care should be exercised to avoid using the tooth for chewing. As the tooth becomes structurally weak, it may break or become infected. In case of any sensitivity, a mild pain killer may be taken. In most cases, regular activity is resumed by the patient just a day after the treatment.

Risks in the Treatment

In some rare cases, root canal treatment may not be successful the first time. As a result inflammation, infection and persistent pain may recur. If the X-ray report in such cases indicates that a repeat treatment is feasible, the old filling is removed and the canals are thoroughly cleaned again. The problems in the first treatment are identified and a new procedure is performed. In cases where another treatment is not feasible, an endodontic surgery is performed in which the diseased tissue is cleaned and the canal is resealed.

This ultimate guide to Root Canal Treatment will make people aware about this inevitable dental procedure, while mentally preparing those who are planning to undergo it.